Telehealth Services - Always a Great Option

Telehealth services may have been become a necessity during COVID-19, but they are certainly here to stay with good reason! With life so close to being "back to normal," we understand that head colds and other bugs/viral infections are starting to return back into our households. Whether it's yourself or a family member, it can impact your upcoming appointments and social events until you're asymptomatic. 

Especially during the winter season, when flu cases increase, coupled with shorter hours for some clinics, it can be quite frustrating when you cannot get medical assistance or diagnosis during accessible times.

This situation emphasizes the convenience of telehealth services.

What Are Telehealth Services and How They Help

In the past, people with minor illnesses or injuries would have to wait in line at the ER or urgent care, which resulted in longer wait times and exposure to other sick patients. Telehealth services are a great option for those who do not want to deal with the hassle of going into a doctor's office or waiting in line.

Telehealth uses electronic information and technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and administration. Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications.

Telehealth allows you to see a provider from the comfort of your own home. You can schedule appointments around your work or school schedule without taking time off.

The Benefits of Telehealth

Telehealth services are a great option for patients who may have difficulty making it to their doctor's office or clinic. These services provide patients with convenience and accessibility, as well as quality care.

Patients can avoid travel time and costs, and they can receive care from the comfort of their own homes. In addition, telehealth services can help patients who have difficulty getting to appointments due to their work schedules or other commitments.

Telehealth services also provide quality care. Studies have shown that patients who use telehealth services are more likely to adhere to their treatment plan and make fewer trips to the emergency room than those who do not.

This is why we're still offering our EP services via telehealth for the times you're unwell or unable to make your appointment if someone in your household is sick.

During 2020, we all grasped the idea of completing regular exercise at home using a variety of household items as resistance, to move our bodies to maintain our physical activity levels and consistency throughout the week.

How to Get Started with Telehealth

If you're looking for a way to get started with telehealth, finding a provider the very first thing to do. Once you've found a few providers that look promising, give them a call to ask about their services and see if they're a good fit for your needs.

At TSIC, our telehealth services focus on treating sports-related injuries, physiotherapy, and general exercise physiology. Especially for exercise physiology, we have a wide range of classes for different age groups. We highly recommend older adults explore our exercise classes for seniors.

Once you've found a provider you're comfortable with, making an appointment is easy. Most providers will have an online booking system that you can use or give them a call to schedule an appointment. You can use our booking system by clicking here. Telehealth appointments are typically shorter than in-person appointments, so be sure to have your questions ready beforehand.

Preparing for Your Appointment and What to Expect

If you're in this position and unable to make a physical visit, please call our clinic and adjust your appointment to telehealth if it's suitable.

Before your appointment, check that you have a good internet connection, which ensures that the video call is clear and there are no interruptions. You may also want to test your audio and video settings beforehand.

When you join the call, introduce yourself so that the provider knows who they are talking to. The provider will ask you questions about your symptoms and may also want to know about your medical history. It's important to be as open and honest as possible so that they can provide the best care possible.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the clinic and ask to speak to one of our Exercise Physiologists, or you can book online.

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